SUNDAY (April 25, 2021)
Fourth Sunday of Easter
St. Mark, Evangelist
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Gospel Sentence
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)
Reading
“And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.” (Acts 4:1–4)
Meditation
Jesus, the Truth, can be a source of annoyance to those who do not believe. Mercy dispensed inappropriately—to those who are on the margins and have done nothing to deserve it like the lame man healed by Peter and John—can also cause annoyance and discord. Adding fuel to the fire, there is now resurrection talk and the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection! In an attempt to silence the Truth, Peter and John are thrown in jail, but to no avail for the Truth had been proclaimed and many were given the gift of faith.
Silence
Prayer for Holy Cross Member
Let your grace be upon Denise, O Lord, and teach her to hope in the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Prayer of the Week
Almighty God, merciful Father, since You have wakened from death the Shepherd of Your sheep, grant us Your Holy Spirit that when we hear the voice of our Shepherd we may know Him who calls us each by name and follow where He leads; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Lord’s Prayer